Tuesday, September 17, 2013

All Day Q&A!

It's that time again! I'm answering all your burning questions (even those that aren't on fire)—just ask away here, on Facebook, or on Twitter. You may ask multiple questions, and I'll answer everything sent to me before midnight Mountain Time. The questions don't have to be about writing. They can be embarrassing. Basically, today I am yours.

Kiersten always jokingly asks where you found your critique partners, but I'm curious, how did you find each other? I've tried for years (literally, years) to find a group of people with whom I can share my writing ups and downs, but it never seems to work out. Put bluntly, I can't seem to find a place where people are as serious about writing as I am. I've made friends with a few people, but often the relationship feels one-sided. They're all talk and no action, often calling me up to brainstorm their books, but never putting words on a page. One has been working on the same book for two years. The others haven't written at all in just as long. This bothers me, because I've seen how their blasé attitudes affect me and my writing. The less seriously they take their writing, the less seriously I'm tempted to take mine. I've had to pull away from them a bit because of that. It isn't that I'm not happy to have them or help them--they're my friends and I love them dearly--but at this stage in my writing (submission), I want more than a cheering section. I want a support section made up of people who have been or are going through the same things I'm going through, who know what it's like to write for so long you hit a wall, and then know how to climb that wall. People who write every day and adhere to deadlines and understand what it's like to be doing this, really doing this on a daily basis. I hope I don't sound like a snit. It isn't that my friends aren't good enough; we're just at a different place right now. I just wish I were in a place where I could ask for advice and support instead of giving it all the time. :-/

I really wish I had some kind of helpful answer for you, but the truth is I've come to realize just how LUCKY I was to meet the crit partners I have.

I won't go into too much detail, but after about two years of writing on my own with no other writing friends at all, I went online to try and figure out how to publish. It was through my pursuits there that I slowly met people. I met Kiersten and Renee Collins through the blog Evil Editor, where we were all getting our queries critiqued. I met others through a contest I won on Nathan's Bransford's blog. Etc.

It was a long process, really. Months of chatting online became more personal emails, which then became in-person meet ups, which morphed into daily chats and visits and phones calls and real friendship.

I wish I could say there was a sure fire way to have this happen, but really I can't. So much of it was just us having some things in common and figuring out the hard stuff along the way.

But I will say this—if you feel your circle of writer friends is not challenging you, then I would recommend seeking out people who will. It really does make a huge difference. There are lots of ways to do that, whether it be through attending a conference or writing workshop, finding a place online that offers crits, or even paying for a crit by a professional.

Finding a way to get your writing to the next level can feel like a shot in the dark—it kind of is. I know I tried all sorts of stuff and MOST of it didn't really work. But then there were those few things, those few people, that changed everything. It didn't happen over night, but by continuing to TRY it eventually did work out.

Eight years ago when I started writing my first novel, it felt impossible to make friends at all. I figured I'd be alone it in forever. I never would have guessed that all this would be my life now. So I hope it happens for you because it is a wonderful thing, but alas, I have no magic manual that tells a writer how to do it.

When you meet other published writers now, is it a very different experience than before you were published? Are you finding it easier to make new friends among writers/authors, or do you still feel nervous about talking to strangers at signings and conferences (assuming you have that in common with many people)?

Interesting question! It's weird, but I've actually had a harder time feeling comfortable meeting other published authors now than when I wasn't published. It's like, I knew how to act as a FAN of an author, but I'm still trying to figure out how to act like a COLLEAGUE.

Plus, there are new things I worry about, like if a "big" author thinks I'm trying to be nice because I want something from them when I don't. And I often feel like a major newb as a midlist debut. In a lot of ways I still struggle with "feeling legit." It's almost like being a freshman in college—that "do I really belong here?" feeling.

I still feel very nervous talking to anyone, lol. But that's largely part of my social anxiety. It doesn''t really matter who a person is—I'll be nervous if I don't know them. I'm still most comfortable hanging out around my friends and family, who I know understand my oddities. I still have to really prepare mentally for events like signings, and I have to make sure I have "recovery time" spent alone after otherwise I get really anxious and stressed out.

Maybe things will change in time, as I continue to get used to this new role. Who knows?

That's fascinating. I was hoping meeting other writers would get easier at some point.

I have a second question, though! You gave some super helpful advice about shiny new ideas once - I think it was that they would take as much work as your current WIP, so you might as well stick with what you're currently working on - but assuming that you're working on what you're "supposed" to be working on, do you find it easier or harder to write new stories, now that you know how much work it truly takes to take a story from start to finish?

And how long would you say it takes you now to complete a story, with edits and rewrites and everything?

Ha! You got it—it's actually MUCH harder for me to write new stories now than before. It definitely has to do with knowing how much work it will be, how much you have to invest of your emotions, how much TIME you'll be spending with it. I really struggle to commit to stories now because I feel like I've gotten my heart broken a lot by having to walk away from books that never got shared—now I stress over whether or not a book will be "worth it."

I'm actually currently facing this issue, heh. I have a few ideas I like but am afraid to love and commit to. It's a very annoying thing, but I know if I keeping exploring them eventually I'll get over it. At least I have so far.

Story completion is still a big variable for me. But BLINDSIDED took me six months to write the first draft. The edits were smashed into two crazy months where I was working hard core. I've gotten a lot slower at drafting, though people still seem to assume I write really fast. Sometimes it takes me a few months, sometimes a year. My contemporaries seem to take a lot more "stewing" time, and I usually spend a year with them though not all of that is writing. Much of it is thinking and planning and exploring characters and possibilities.

Hi Natalie! I'm curious about your writing process... just the day-to-day stuff. Do you write every day? You set word goals or tell yourself how long you're going to spend writing each day/week/whatever? Do you outline, and if so, how extensively? Do you have any writing rituals?

Sorry, that's about a million questions, but feel free to just answer the ones that interest you. And thank you!

I used to be the writer that wrote everyday and wrote at least 1k. Now? I'm a lot more flexible—I've just had to be, with 3 kids and a vast array of responsibilities. But I'll give you some of the details I can give:)

Writing everyday: I TRY to write every week day. I decided several years ago that I would take weekends off, and I love that. It's nice to have days where I don't feel guilty that I'm not writing. I think it's important to take time off to think and breathe a little.

Word goals: Mine varying based on deadlines and other things. When I was writing BLINDSIDED, I was trying for at least 1k a day, and as deadline approached that turned into 2k. But I struggled to meet those a lot. Now that I am contract free? I've set a goal of a measly 500 words a day, so that I'm doing SOMETHING but not really pushing myself. I need to relax right now after all that.

Writing Time: I used to write whenever I got the chance, now I wait until I am "kid-free." I have a window where my two older ones are at school and my baby is napping—I use that time for work. I find if I'm not trying to work while I'm tending to my kids, then I'm a lot nicer to them.

Outlining: I'm not a huge outliner. I often takes notes of where I hope the next couple chapters will go, but nothing extensive. I never write out a whole outline to the end—that takes out the excitement for me. I like to explore as I draft.

Rituals: I have purposely gotten rid of most of my rituals. I used to snack and drink Diet Code Red while I wrote. Now I only drink water. I used to sit at my desk. Now I write wherever because it's necessary. I sometimes listen to music and sometimes don't. This is important for my current busy lifestyle—I can't afford to have rituals when I have little time as it is. This makes it possible for me to write anywhere under any circumstance.

Oh, Fall is my favorite! I love when it gets colder because I really don't like summer. I think my favorite thing is being able to pull out my boots and jackets and scarves. I love those things and can't wear them all summer!

What does that say about me? I suppose that I really like to be covered, heh. I've never been one for showing skin, I guess. Also, I like being cozy in soft clothes.

Cozy is the perfect word for it! I also appreciate cold weather more than the heat. My friends think this means I have a heart of ice and I'm afraid of melting. I can't wait until they see what icy things I do to my characters. :) Thanks!

Hmm, it's probably boring but I do like to read in bed. I love my bed in general—it's comfy:) I also really like to read while traveling, though I don't travel often. It's nice to have a book when you're sitting in an airport.

Mostly because I can't seem to write anything else! When I first decided I'd try to publish, I thought about maybe doing picture books since I'm also an artist. This quickly died because I had no ideas and picture books are hard. Then I decided to try Middle Grade—I got about 7 pages in and decided it was really bad and I couldn't write a whole book in that voice.

Then I decided to go back to an old idea I wrote in high school. It was kind of a Sailor Moon knock off, but with some Magic Knight Rayearth thrown in too. But anyway, what I learned from that project was that I LIKED to write teens. All of the sudden I had ideas and strong voices and I was EXCITED to write everyday.

So I kept writing YA. All my characters come to me as teens, and I really think it's my natural strength even though when I started YA was The Big New Trend. Even after YA isn't the trend, I'm sure I'll still be writing it because that's where I feel my voice fits best.

Plus, I have, to this day, never EVER had an adult-aged main character come to mind. I'm not sure if I ever will. And if it ever does happen, I may freak out.

I love all sorts of anime! I grew up on Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z, plus Evangelion, Utena, Fushigi Yuugi, and Escaflowne. Now I've watched lots of different things—FMA, Bleach, Inuyasha, My Bride Is A Mermaid, Sgt. Frog, Hikaru No Go, Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit, Maid Sama, Kimi ni Todoke, Special A, etc. I could probably go on forever, heh.

Haha, I love this question! I like to really learn about stuff if it's a big part of my book, so I have done some odd things.

I think the biggest one was that I ended up buying goldfish because my main character in a WIP was obsessed with them. I tried to learn how to take care of them and even killed a few along the way, poor things. But it taught me a lot about what it would take to care for those suckers long term.

I've also traveled for research—both to San Francisco (NINJA book) and San Diego (a current WIP). I'd love to do more of that.

Oh! And I once hiked a mountain to check out a certain lake I referenced in one of my novels, but that was ages ago. I think like my 3rd novel. That was really fun but also hard.

One of my current WIP features a surfer chick. If I end up trying to surf because of her, that will certainly be the craziest thing I've done for a novel;P

I have been to only a couple conference, Christine, both local Utah conferences (LTUE, and LDStorymakers). Now, I've been to them a few times, but really my conference experience is low.

But I think conferences can be great! I've enjoyed the ones I've attended, especially because you get to be surrounded by writers and that's not a common occurrence. There's a kind of camaraderie that can be really inspiring and motivating—on top of all the good information and pitch sessions and workshops and such.

The reason I haven't attended more conference is purely a financial one. I just don't have the money to travel, so I haven't been to the bigger ones. Maybe someday? Who knows.

I know a lot of agents/authors/everyone says it's hard (if not impossible) to make a complete living as an author. Do you know what you'd have to do to get close? Is it, like, feasible or just all-out-impossible?

Cait, it is really, really not easy. I mean, there are some authors who get to that point, but it's usually after years and years of work. There are the select few who hit it big right off the bat, but even that doesn't guarantee continued success or ever earning out on a huge advance.

There are several reasons it's hard to do. The first is the deceptive appearance of the Advance. People tend to think you get that money all at once, when really you get installments. And the bigger the advance, usually the more spread out it is.

For example, my US publisher paid me an avg advance for a first time author—it was paid in installments of 2, signing of contract and acceptance of final manuscript (usually when the ms goes to copy edits). My UK publisher also paid an avg advance for the UK, but it was divided into 3 payments, contract, acceptance, and publish. This can spread the money out quite thin, sometimes over several years.

For example, I only got one payment all of last year. It was under 10k. And that's before taxes come out. Could I feed my three kids, pay rent, and keep us insured with just that much? Um, heck no. We still entirely depend on my husband's job.

So yeah, even with three books in the pipeline I am nowhere close to being able to support myself on my words. I don't ever expect to be, though the extra boost does help keep my children in clothes and shoes. Maybe this will change in ten years, and I'll somehow have generated enough of a backlist and royalty flow that we would be okay. But I'm honestly not counting on it. I try not to do this for the money, because when you think about the money things get pretty depressing. I love what I do and I'm grateful for any little bit I get.

Natalie Whipple

I am an author and card-carrying nerd. My favorite areas of the nerd realm include anime, Korean dramas, good cheese, and playing mmorpgs with my family. I take pride in writing the weirdest books I can think of, and my novels TRANSPARENT and BLINDSIDED, HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW, and RELAX, I'M A NINJA are just some of my wacky ideas.